This could be handy if you like to use images on your site and in blog posts etc. Getty has announced that many (approx 35 Million) of their images can be used for free on sites, as long as they are embedded using the Getty embed code (it’s an iFrame basically, but includes Getty branding and other guff).
Look for the embed button on images (if there’s no embed button, then you can’t use it for free):
There’s a few terms and conditions (eg you can’t use them in advertising or promotions etc):
Where enabled, you may embed Getty Images Content on a website, blog or social media platform using the embedded viewer (the “Embedded Viewerâ€). Not all Getty Images Content will be available for embedded use, and availability may change without notice. Getty Images reserves the right in its sole discretion to remove Getty Images Content from the Embedded Viewer. Upon request, you agree to take prompt action to stop using the Embedded Viewer and/or Getty Images Content. You may only use embedded Getty Images Content for editorial purposes (meaning relating to events that are newsworthy or of public interest). Embedded Getty Images Content may not be used: (a) for any commercial purpose (for example, in advertising, promotions or merchandising) or to suggest endorsement or sponsorship; (b) in violation of any stated restriction; (c) in a defamatory, pornographic or otherwise unlawful manner; or (d) outside of the context of the Embedded Viewer.
Overall, pretty handy, and covers all their categories including creative and celebrity photos.
Here’s one to get me started:
(Getty Images via TheNextWeb)
Looks great but not if you’re hosted at WordPress.com, they don’t allow iframes. See http://en.support.wordpress.com/code/
cadbloke  Bummer :-( Kinda surprising for WordPress.com IMO. Looks like they don’t even allow embedding of YouTube videos unless you’ve paid to put the VideoPress upgrade on your blog.
YouTube etc are ok…http://en.support.wordpress.com/videos/youtube/, VideoPress is for hosting videos on their servers. See http://en.support.wordpress.com/videopress/. WP.com are pretty flexible but I find my site there a lot slower than my old $5/month host, albeit much easier to maintain. Strangely, the posts still don’t seem to write themselves. Bummer.
I can understand WP’s concerns over the security implications of unverified iframes, JavaScript and similar things so I’m not surprised they drew a line in the sand there, they have a lot of sites and servers to protect.
Oh, I found this page on wp.com which may be handy for all of us. http://en.support.wordpress.com/add-media/finding-free-images-and-other-media/
But (never begin a sentence with…) as you said in a recent post, that time spent looking for a perfect picture could perhaps be better spent typing better words.
We have been doing embeds for about a year now, having Getty come in does excite us. Innovation in this space is definitely necessary – http://imgembed.com/
Most importantly we use flattened jpgs to facilitate responsive designs and current CMS auto-generated thumbnails.
We aim to be a ethical-use marketplace, so our ethos might differ slightly from corporate Getty. Photographers strictly retain their rights and we only act as a facilitator. Free use is limited to 10,000 impressions but is allowable for commercial use. Our belief is that beyond 10k impressions, you are probably making enough that the photographer should be fairly compensated. While we might suggest image pricing, that is fully up to the image rights owners, giving them full control.
So, WordPress fixed it: http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/embed-support-getty-images/
The only real negative I’ve heard so far is how it will affect the internet archive – those images won’t be archived with your site.
cadbloke  Oooh nice, thanks for the update Ewen.